by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

If Rep. Mel Watt is confirmed by the Senate to a post in the Obama administration, chances are good his seat in Congress will stay in Democratic hands.

President Obama on Wednesday tapped Watt, an 11-term House member from North Carolina, as his choice to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in providing government-backed mortgages.

Watt was re-elected in November with 80% of the vote in a North Carolina district that's heavily gerrymandered to take in Charlotte, Greensboro and parts of Winston-Salem. He is the only congressman to represent North Carolina's 12th District since the seat was created after the 1990 Census.

Presidents have to be careful about appointing a member of Congress to an administration post and opening up the House or Senate seat to a competitive election. Hilda Solis represented a safe Democratic seat in the House when she was tapped by Obama in his first term as his Labor secretary, and she was succeeded by a Democrat.

Gov. Pat McGrory, a Republican, would call a special election to replace Watt. The timing would depend on when he resigns or when he is confirmed by the Senate.

Rep. Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the House Democratic campaign committee, isn't worried about the seat flipping to the GOP. "We look forward to electing a Democrat to fill this Democratic seat who will strengthen the middle class, create jobs and fight for the families of Charlotte and Greensboro," he said.

The Charlotte Observer reports several Democratic state lawmakers are already expressing their interest in the House seat and noted that the field could be crowded.

But it's a big "if" that there will be a vacancy: As USA TODAY's David Jackson reports, key Republicans such as Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, are already signaling their opposition to Watt.